Carbureter for explosive-engines.



Patented Dec. 23, I902.

C. N. NELK.

CARBUBETER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

(Application filed Sept. 4, 1902.]

(No Model.)

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TTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL N. NELK, OF PALOALTO, CALIFORNIA.

CARBURETER FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,573, dated December 23, 1902. Application filed September 4, 1902. Serial No. 122,084. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it Wuty concern:

Be it known that I, CARL N. NELK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paloalto, county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Carbu rotors; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is especially designed for carbureting or charging air with hydrocarbon vapor in such proportions as to render it explosive, and it is especially designed for use upon motor-cycles, automobiles, and like machines or engines.

It consists of a cylindrical casing having a conical plate or diaphragm intermediate between the top and bottom. A regulated oilsupply is delivered upon the apex of the cone and is distributed outward and downwardly from said apex. Through the periphery of this diaphragm a series of vertical pipes connect the space below with the inclosed space above the diaphragm, and openings in the sides of these pipes allow the hydrocarbon to pass into the pipes from the distributingplate. A current of air is constantly passing up through the pipes, caused by the suction from the motor, which is connected with the space above the distributing-plate, and the oil and air passing through these pipes are mixed and delivered into the upper chamber in condition to pass to the motor. A second series of air-pipes is connected with the annular space between the distributing-plate and the correspondingly-shaped plate located above it, and the air thus admitted is mingled with the hydrocarbon as it passes over the distributing-plate and also passes through the holes in the tubes and into the mixingchamber.

My invention also comprises a ,means for regulating the supply of oil and details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through so 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the apparatus with an automatic oil-feed.

A is a cylindrical casing which may be open at the bottom and having a fine-meshed sieve or strainer 2, through which airis admitted into the lower part of the chamber. Intermediate between the top and bottom of the chamber is a conical diaphragm 5, upon the apex of which the hydrocarbon liquid is delivered either from above or below. This diaphragm diverges downward and outward from the apex and becomes approximately horizontal around its outer periphery, which fits closely against the interior of the casing. Through this horizontal portion a series of vertical tubes 3 pass, these tubes entirely surrounding the interior of the chamber, as shown in Fig. 2. Above the cone 5 is asecond cone 5 similar in shape, so as to form an annular space between the two; but the upper part of the cone 5 connects with a cylindrical upwardly-extending chamber 5*, into the sides of which a series of surrounding air-pipes 8 open. These pipes radiate from the cylindrical portion 5 and may be bent so as to extend upwardly through the top of the chamber A, having open ends, through which air may be admitted into the interior of the cylinder 5 The space between this cylinder and the interior of the casing A and above the diaphragm 5 forms a chamber into which the upper ends of the pipes 3 open.

The hydrocarbon liquid may be admitted into the space between the cones 5 and 5 either from above through a valve-controlled opening, as at 7, Fig. 1, or by a passage through the lower cone from below and controlled by a similar adjustable valve, as at 7 Fig. 3. In either case the liquid is delivered at the apex of the cone 5, and it then flows divergently down the cone to its base, where it enters holes 9, made through opposite sides of the tubes 3, preferably in the line oftheir circle of disposition around the base of the cone. The liquid flowing down the cone enters the tubes 3 through the holes 9 and there meets the upwardly-flowing current of air, which thus becomes charged with the vapor, and then enters the chamber 4 in readiness for use. Air admitted through the pipes 8 will pass with the liquid over the diaphragm and enter these holes and be distributed Within the pipes 3 and pass through their upper ends into the chamber 4.

16 is a passage through which the explosive medium passes from the chamber 4 to the engine, and 10 is a perforated bafiie-plate interposed between the chamber and the passage and through which the vapor must pass as it leaves the chamber.

The operation of the device will then be as follows: The reciprocations of the engine-piston will produce a vacuum, which is in like manner produced within the chamber 4, and this causes air to be drawn in through the pipes 3 and 8. The air entering through the pipes 3 meets the hydrocarbon liquid, which is delivered upon the apex of the conical diaphragm 5 and which flows down the cone and into the pipes through the holes 9. At the same time air may be drawn in through the pipes 8, and this will also enter the pipes and become charged with vapor. The upward movement of air through the tubes 3 charges it with vapor from the liquid and at the same time prevents the latter from flowing out at the bottom of the tubes, as the draft is sufficient to carry any surplus liquid up through the tubes into the chamber 4, from which it may be returned into the tubes through holes 6, just above the surface of the upper cone 5, to be again acted on by the air. The tubes 3 preferably extend to a considerable distance below the holes through which the liquid enters, so that said liquid will be subjected to contact with the air for a considerable time. Although the tubes 3 are here shown as terminating within a casing having an open bottom for the admission of air, it will be understood that the bottom may be closed and the tubes have their lower ends extend so as to open through this bottom, the admission of air being the same in either case.

If it is desirable to warm the liquid, a chambe! may be formed below the diaphragm 5 and the hot exhaust products from the engine admitted in a suitably regulated manner around the pipes 3 below the diaphragm 5.

The supply of liquid may either be regulated by hand or it may be regulated automatically.

In order to provide for an automatic regu lation, I have shown a modification of the apparatus in Fig. 3, in which the oil-supply tube 6 passes through theside of the casing A,below. the conical diaphragm 5,and the receiver 6 is located below the cone 5. A passage is made upwardly through the apex of the cone, and this passageis controlled by a valve 7*, which may be regulated from above by means of a screw-threaded stem 7, passing through the stuffing-box in the upper part. The inlet-passage 6 connects with the lower part of a chamber ]3, within which a float 13 is adapted to rise and fall. Through the center of this float an oil-feed pipe 12 passes loosely and terminates just above the bottom of the float. Fixed in the lower part of the float and in line with this pipe is a valve 14, so located that when the float rises this valve will be caused to close the lower end of the pipe l2,and when the float is depressed it will open thevalve.

It is designed to maintain the oil in the carbureter at a level approximately even with the apex of the conical diaphragm 5. As soon as the oil in the tank rises to that level it also lifts the loosely-moving float, and the valve 14 will close the bottom of the inletpipe 12, and thus out off further supply until the consumption of the liquid in the carbureter allows the float to fall, and thus remove the valve 14 and allow more liquid to enter the chamber B.

When the engine is running at high speed, the suction acting through the pipes 3 will cause a more rapid consumption of the hydrocarbon liquid and the float will fall more rapidly. If the engine is running more slowly, the liquid will not be used as rapidly; but in any case the float and valve act to regulate the supply in proportion to the demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A device for vaporizing liquids com prising acasing havingaclosed top, a conical diaphragm located between the top and bottom, means for delivering the liquid upon the apex of the diaphragm to allow it to flow downwardly and outwardly, a chamber located between the top of the diaphragm and the interior of the casing and a discharge-passage therefrom, a series of open-ended tubes connecting the chamber with the space below the diaphragm, and having openings coincident with the base of the diaphragm through which oil may enter the tubes.

2. A device for vaporizing liquids consisting of an exterior casing closed at the top, conical diaphragms closing the space between the top and bottom of the casing, and having an open space between them, pipes by which air is admitted into said space, a chamber surrounding and located above the diaphragm with a discharge-passage therefrom, means for delivering the liquid upon the apex of the lower diaphragm and passages connecting the interposed space with the chamber above the diaphragm.

3. A device for vaporizing liquids consisting of a chamber having a closed top, a pair of conical diaphragms closing the space between the top and bottom of the chamber and having an interposed space between them, open-en ded tubes passing through the periphery of the diaphragm and connecting the space below with the space above, said tubes having holes made in them coincident with the space between the diaphragms,other tubes through which air is admitted into a chamber with which the upper portion of the space between the diaphragms is connected, means for delivering liquid into the space between the diaphragms, a chamber into which the upper end ofthe vertical tubes extend, and a discharge-passage connecting therewith.

4. A device for vaporizing liquids consisting of an outer casing closed at the top, conical diaphragms located between the top and bottom having a space between them, air-pipes opening into the upper part of said space, an

annular series of vertically-disposed openended pipes passing through the peripheries of the diaphragms connecting the space below with the chamber above, said latter pipes having holes coincident with the space between the diaphragms through which air and oil are admitted thereto, and means for delivering oil upon the apeX of the lower diaphragm.

5. The combination in an apparatus for vaporizing liquids, a chamber closed at the top, a pair of interspaced conically-shaped diaphragms located between the top and bottom of the chamber, pipes by which air is delivered into said space, an annular series of vertical open-ended pipes passing through the diaphragms around the periphery having holes communicating with the space between said diaphragms, means for delivering liquid upon the apex of the lower diaphragm, and means for automatically controlling the supply of said liquid, said means consisting of a chamber having an inlet-pipe, a float and a valve carried thereby, said valve acting to control the flow of liquid through the inner pipe.

6. A device for vaporizing liquids consisting of a casing, interspaced conical diaphragms forming a partition between the top and bottom, means for delivering the liquid upon the apex of the lower diaphragm, vertically disposed .open ended tubes passing through the periphery of the diaphragm and having openings communicating with the space into which the liquid is admitted, a chamber located above the cone, into which the upper ends of the tubes discharge, said chamber having openings from the lower part into the tubes whereby any liquid carried into the chamber may be returned to the tubes.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL N. NELK.

Witnesses:

L. B. WooDRUFF, S. W. CHARLES. 

